In a world dominated by instant access to information, one wonders if we are creating a society of apprentices.
We all know a little bit about everything and if we don’t, we can certainly pull up a Wikipedia page on our phones.
The question is… have we then abandoned the pursuit of becoming a Master of one thing.
What does it mean to be called a Master? To know something so well that you become the source. To do something so well, no one else can duplicate it.
To pursue perfection with every breath and with every ounce of your being.
What are you a Master of? During these hyper distracted times, a singular pursuit of something whether it be in business or otherwise, can prove to be more valuable than ever before.
The video is just under 7 minutes. I know. That is unacceptably long and you don’t have the time.
Take the time. You can spare 7 minutes.

All businesses are started with a sense of optimism defined by projections and what could happen. In essence, we all made decisions on what we could build or make. There were no guarantees.
I don’t know of any successful businesses that were started based on what it costs.
Why then do we make the big business decisions based on what it costs instead of what it could bring?
Sensible pragmatism is not the same thing as entrepreneurial optimism.

Recently, I took my family of four to a popular neighborhood restaurant.
The place was about half full. The host/waiter escorted us to a small corner table. I asked if we can sit at one of the empty larger booths.
The waiter asked the manager who promptly said no. The manager went on to explain that the booths were only for larger parties. Normally, I would engage at this point but I was so tired after a long day, we just accepted the small table.
Our dinner experience lasted for about an hour and a half.
And… giving me cause to write this piece, the booth we wanted to sit at was empty the entire time. I guess the phantom customers never arrived. The nonexistent customers were of higher value to the manager than us paying customers.
I would like to think that this scenario is not familiar to you and that something like this has never happened to you. Unfortunately, I know that’s not true.
In business, it’s important to take care of the customers you have instead of the phantom customers you are expecting.
Fleeting are the customers who are mistreated by you and courted by your competitors.

Getting to the “next level” requires change. We all profess to know this and often seek someone or something that will help us acquire change.
When change is finally before us and when we are called upon to embrace it, most of us hesitate.
Why? It’s because change is not comfortable nor is it familiar. It can be risky and in some cases even dangerous.
On the flip side, it can also be rewarding and pay huge dividends–financial and otherwise.
Instead of fearing change, we must fear the status quo and the plateau we’ve found ourselves dwelling on.
The next level is calling on you to act. Remember, change cannot happen without change.

This one is worth sharing. A remarkable child reminds us all what’s important. Enjoy.

On July 23, 2011, nine-year-old Rachel Beckwith was killed in a tragic car accident on highway I-90 near Seattle, Washington. After her death, thousands of people all around the world started donating to her mycharity: water fundraising page, and over the course of a month, raised over $1.2 million in Rachel’s honor. That money is now helping 60,000 people get access to clean water.

It’s been exactly a year since the accident. In honor of the anniversary, Rachel’s mom, Samantha, and her grandparents, Richard and Roseanne, visit Ethiopia with charity: water and meet some of the people Rachel helped. We’ve documented the entire day on video so we can share it with all of you.